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New Year’s Eve family-friendly events in Honolulu

December 26, 2012

By Christine Hitt and Diane Lee

Photo: Istock

On Sunday, December 30, Children’s Discovery Center hosts a countdown-to-noon party for kids. There will be a balloon drop, apple-juice toast and a kid-friendly celebration complete with party hats and noisemakers. No registration required. Kamaaina and military, $8, children under 1 are free, Children’s Discovery Center, Dec. 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., discoverycenterhawaii.org.

On Monday, December 31, there are many options ranging from fireworks and Disney characters to late-night hours at a favorite game room.

Kakaako Waterfront Park has a New Year’s Eve party for all ages with an EK Fernandez Ferris Wheel, light shows and Eat the Street vendors. There will also be a beer garden, deejays, live entertainment and an all-ages reggae concert. Fireworks start at 9 p.m. and continue every hour, ending with a grand finale at midnight. All ages, Dec 31, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m., children free under 10, $25 general admission, $75+ VIP, Kakaako Waterfront Park, 102 Ohe Street, 745-3000, http://eventful.com/honolulu/events/new-years-eve-party-year-/E0-001-052636720-0

Arrive early to Ko Olina and spend the evening watching a free family-friendly movie at Lagoon 4 with your kids (movie TBA). Bring blankets, chairs and snacks, but coolers, backpacks and alcoholic beverages are not allowed to this event. At midnight, you can enjoy a free 15-minute display of more than $100,000 worth explosives and pyrotechnics over the resort's four lagoons. Free, Dec 31, Ko Olina Resort, 92-1480 Aliinui Drive, 679-1090, koolina.com.

If you want a New Year’s Eve late-night party catered for kids, you may want to purchase the entertainment package at Aulani Beach Lagoon. The party includes deejays, Disney characters, beverages and desserts. You can upgrade to the dinner package if you are craving more than just sweets. Welcome the New Year with top hats, glow sticks, noisemakers and a midnight champagne toast (apple cider for the kids). Cheers! Entertainment package only (10 p.m. to 12 a.m., $69 for guests ages 10 and up, $39 for kids ages 3 to 9, free for 2 and under); Entertainment and Dinner package (8 p.m. to 10 p.m. dinner, $165 guests 10 and up, $85 for keiki ages 3 to 9, free for 2 and under), Aulani Beach Lagoon, 92-1185 Aliinui Drive, 674-6200, resorts.disney.go.com/aulani-hawaii-resort/activities-amenities/new-years-eve-beach-party

Have kids who love to stay up late, but are not that into fireworks displays? Dave & Buster’s will be open until 12:30 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. Kids can enjoy the games, while adults can do a little celebrating of their own. Kids must be accompanied by an adult 25 years of age or older. 1030 Auahi St., Honolulu, 589-2215.

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